Carey keeping a lid on Cummins fitness

Australian captain Pat Cummins looks to be nearing an Ashes return after completing a ‘full tilt’ net session in Perth on Monday.

While the New South Welshman was ruled out of the first Test due to a back stress injury, the promising signs shown by the skipper could point to a second or third Test return.

Speaking just days prior to the first Test in Perth, Aussie wicketkeeper Alex Carey believes that Cummins looked in perfect nick throughout his net session.

“I’ve got to keep a lid on it a little bit,” Carey told SEN's The Run Home.

“I saw him bowling in the nets yesterday… he looked ready to go!

“I guess it’s the build up now. It’s probably not so much bowling the ball at 140(km/h), because it looked like he did that pretty effortlessly yesterday. It’s probably the work around game fitness, so to speak.

“Fingers crossed he keeps pulling up well and gets himself ready. We all know he is a professional, so fingers crossed we see him back sooner rather than later.

“There’s great depth in this group, so if it’s not next game, hopefully it’s soon.”

SEN Cricket’s Bharat Sundaresan was present at the Optus Stadium nets on Monday when Cummins was put through the one-hour bowling session.

All he saw were positive signs that Cummins is truly getting over the issues that have hampered him since Australia’s tour of the West Indies in July.

“What will warm the Australian fans' hearts is that Pat Cummins has just been in the middle of a lengthy spell, and he's bowling at full tilt,” Sundaresan told SEN Sportsday on Monday evening.

“He seems to touch wood, be having no real issues. He did talk about how he thinks he might even be in line to come back into the side in Brisbane.

“He got through his spell, and this is Australia's first net session of the Ashes, so some positive signs for sure.”

Looking closer at the first Test in Perth, Sundaresan kept a close eye on both Jake Weatherald and Brendan Doggett, with both of the potential debutants getting through Monday’s session unscathed.

“Jake Weatherald also had his first hit, and he faced Mitchell Starc, so all’s well there,” Sundaresan said.

“Brendan Doggett bowled as well. So, we could have two debutants in a few days, with two guys getting their baggy green on Friday.

“I'd be very surprised (if they both don’t debut). The fact that Marnus is batting the way he is at No. 3, I think they’ll keep him there.

“Maybe the Hazelwood injury might have just put some doubts in their head, but I would be surprised, and I think Jake will open.”

The first Test begins on Friday in Perth, while the second Test in Brisbane is due to begin on December 4, giving Cummins just over two weeks to push for a Gabba return.